RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) - The partial collapse of a radioactive waste storage tunnel at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation a year ago was a wakeup call.
But whether the call has made a difference is up for debate.
The Tri-City Herald reports the tunnel collapse occurred last May 9 at the former plutonium production site.
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Hanford watchers say the collapse was the result of limited money to address the most serious risks at the site, as aging facilities - some of them built during World War II - deteriorate.
The collapse prompted thousands of workers to take cover indoors.
Franklin and Benton counties activated their emergency operations centers, and many in the Tri-Cities waited to hear if loved ones at Hanford were OK.
Fortunately, no radioactive waste particles escaped and no worker was injured.
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Information from: Tri-City Herald, http://www.tri-cityherald.com
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